The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-17
BEAR AND PUMA.
A Terrific Fight MS Described by IN
Eye Witness.


yond big rock. They we're feeling for an
advantage, or rather the puma was, fol
the bear sat or stood in about the same
spot, save that he moved around so as
to present his front to the enemy. The
puma kept creeping around in circle,
ever and anon crouching as though
about to spring. His eyes resembled
great balls of fire, and his tail moved
from side to side with tireless regular.
ity.
IF you notice the painter" said
Jim, 'you will see that he circles in one
direction all the time. He is trying to
make the bear dizzy, and to rattle hi m.
If the bear ever forgets himself. and
turns in. the opposite direction to the
way the painter goes, so as to give him
u chance to spring on the old fellows
back, the fight will commence in earn
est, and reckon will be a short one.
You see the painter wants to get on the
bears back, and the bear proposes to
have a hug at the painter if he can"
Directly the puma began to increase
his speed, and soon was darling around
ais circle so rapidly that the bear had
all he could do to keep revolving on his
pivot fast enough to circumvent his
enemy But bruin was pretty spry,
md the puma. becom ng enraged at
asst, made spring at the bear and
landed fair in his arms. Brun had
:aised on this hind legs to receive the
great strong brute, and rs they came
ogether with savage snarl and an
angry growl that re-echoed throughout
;he forest nearly lost my place, so ex'
,ited did become.
They were busy times, then, l tell
Jou. The bear got his arms or, rather,
egs around the back of the painter,
md lost no time in squeez ng him with
i'll of his tremendous power, while both
animals began a bloody and most vi
,ious chewing. and tearing and cutting
Ind ripping with their long, sharp
eeth and cruel jaws. They both
ought for the top side, but never ceas-
I'd their horrible gashing, and the fur
md blood seemed to fill the air for sew
,ral feet in all directions.
The noise was terrific, and the com
,at became fiercer and fiercer. The
Dear won the first fall, but by power
hl effort on the part of the puma the
bear was speed ly rolled over, and then
,ruin punched himself together and
tent the puma over again. Thus they
ought, rolling over and over, but still
keeping up their slashing with their
eeth and claws, tho puma trying to
freak the bears hug, and at the same
lime making an effort to get his teeth
INTO bruins throat. At times their
eeth would come together with rat
ling, clashing sound as that of steel
striking against steel, but neither got a
paw of the other in his mouth. After
while the puma turned h head to get
shoulder or leg hold on the bear,
doubtless intending to break the leg
md free himself of the hug in
rider that he might fight with more
AGILITY, but tho bear noticed the
move and sank his teeth into the
,uma's neck Mr.. Puma saw that
hat wouldn't do, and. with scream of
'enewed rage he called all of his
strength to his aid and twisted his head
back and tn ereby exposed the throat
If the bear, for the reason that brun
wouldn't, or at least didn't, relinquish
lis neck-hold just in time. The puma
,losed his jaws with sickening sound
IN the bears throat, and the old fellow
hen let 90 and began work in the
most laughable and at the same time
most frightful hammer and tongs fash
on that ever was witnessed. 1t was
,ite. scratch. claw, rip, tear and gouge,
III four sets of claws going heller skel-
er. hit or miss, for the bear had now
ost his hug. and recognized the fact
hat he must get that fearful fatal
hroat-hold broken or die. As the bear
became more and more excited the
puma became all the cooler In few
econds the puma had the bear fiat on
lis back, and. sinking his fore claws in
he shoulders. steadied himself with
he hind claws, he ripped the bear
,pen, nearly the entire length. and
actually disemboweled the poor brute,
| Jay;no hia entrails ont as n butcher